"Can you stop nagging just for once!!" Millia shouted in an annoyed tone as she walked away from my  wasted form.

"No!! I shall not!" I yelled back as I stood up dusting off the filth sticking on my clothes. I ran towards her, and so much for my luck, I tripped again. Fuck this forest!!

"Wait!! We didn't sign a contract saying that I was your servant and you could take me with you anywhere you want" I reasoned but she ignored it.

"Hey! Old granny, can you hear me?" I yelled again in a mocking way. She hit me. At the back of my head. It wasn't very hurtful but I wasn't smooth enough to be called just a pat. Now, a girl was hitting me. And the worst thing is I couldn't do much. Why on Earth are these elf so fucking tall?!! Wait, I forgot. This isn't Earth in the first place.

"Ouch! Now, what the hell was this for??" I complained again.

"To put some manners in you, little dumbass. Don't you dare call me Old again" She warned. And I giggled bickerley. These Elf girls are not so different from humans after all..hehehe!!

"Shouldn't an old granny like you, given the respect she deserves.." I mocked again and Millia stopped in her steps.

"YOU DARE say that again..." She said, her voice trembling with anger. The whole forest turned silent now. I could literally see fumes of anger rising from her. Oh my God!! Maybe this time I really crossed the line. I am dead now!! May my soul find peace....

"Zipped!!" I announced. I wouldn't be sorry to any girl for being funny, in my right senses, but here even a baby could be dangerous.  It was best not to make people furious here. Millia didn't say anything and continued trailing down her path and as promised, I stayed silent the whole time, not daring to utter a word that could provoke her.

We were in the forest again. This was my second time here, if you deduct the few short walks I took. And as like the last few days, I was here to help this grumpy,  bitter, old Granny. I only chose to help her here because of Elliot's request.

"They saved us and even provided us with food and shelter. We should do our least for them" He had suggested. And I had agreed to support this Granny here. But I heartily regret the fact that I did. This lady here considered herself a boss and me her dear employee, her the princess and me her servant, her the wife and me her husband...Wait! What the hell did I just think!!! I sighed at my silliness. 'You should look for some better metaphors, Nathan.' I thought to myself.

"We are here.." Our Mistress announced.

"Here, where? We are still in the forest." I asked. 

"Did you think I was taking you to some palace?? Of course, we are in the forest. You are not going to find the herbs I need, on clouds or anything.." She said as she sat down at the base of one of the pine trees in front of us.

"As you say, Granny..." I whispered to myself, yet her ears perched up.

"Did I hear the word 'Granny'?" She asked in a deep voice.

"Nope....your ears are buzzing." I replied flatly and opened the bag she had given me to carry the herbs she passed me. Usually, this work of bringing herbs for Millia's medicines was done by Zeo and Elliot but with Elliot being injured physically and Zeo mentally, as I presume from his condition. It was up to me and Millia for keeping up the stocks of medicines for keeping up Elliot's treatment and Millia's clinic.

You know, when I first saw Elliot soaked in so much blood, my heart sank. I felt a strange kind of loneliness at that moment. And then in the next moment I was bubbling with anger. I could have guessed by Zeo's attitude then, that it wasn't his fault but I needed someone to push my anger over and thus Zeo became the subject of my anger. I later regretted doing so.

"Are you thinking about your friend, Elliot?" Millia asked. Wait, am I so easy to read? Does she have the power to read minds??

If yes, then I am dead..

"How did you come to know? " I questioned.

"You're silent only when you are thinking about something. And after yesterday, your friend seems to be the best choice to think on, in case you are a good friend as I presume.

"You seem to have good deduction sense, tell me are you a cop or a spy" I commented and I could sense she just rolled her eyes.

"Did Zeo told you anything about what had happened?" I asked after some time.

"All I know is that they were attacked by someone...." She said.

"Wait, attacked? By whom?"

She just gave a shrug.

"If they were attacked, then there are chances that we might be too, no?" I asked.

"Are you scared?" She asked while turning towards me, her face painted with a merry expression.

"Wh-o is s-c-cared?" I said my face turned red with embarrassment. And Millia went on laughing.

Suddenly, a hushing was heard from the tall grasses behind me. I froze. My heart was pounding like crazy. I turned back. My body is still stuck to the ground. The voice of the crushing grasses and leaves was closing in.